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21st Century Outlaws:

An Informational Essay on Gangs and Security Threat Groups

by

Robert P. Tuttle III

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“21st Century Outlaws: An Informational Essay on Gangs and Security Threat Groups” Copyright © 1999 by Robert Tuttle III, All Rights Reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the express prior written permission of the author.

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Part One: Street Gangs

Black Street Gangs:

Crips

In the late 1960’s, a teenager by the name of Raymond Lee Washington, a self-styled tough guy, started a gang he called the Avenue Cribs, an offshoot of the Avenue Boys gang. In the spring of 1971, Washington joined forces with another young gang member, 16 year old Stanley “Tookie” Williams, and the Avenue Cribs became simply known as the Crips. The origin of the name Crip is lost in time, and no one today really knows where it came from. There are many theories about the name, everything from Washington’s use of a cane, to their adoption of the name of a 1970’s horror movie, “Tales from the Crypt.” There are also more than a few far fetched ideas, such as Crip being an abbreviation of Kryptonite, or the lesser known “Rollin’ Crypt DeVilles” (thought by some to be the gangs original name, stemming from their use of a Cadillac Coup De Ville). The Crip street gangs began forming somewhat independently around 1969 or 1970. They were first seen near high schools such as Fremont High School, the alma mater of Raymond Washington. It was near Fremont High where the “East Side Crips” were located, and on the opposite side of the 110 Harbor Freeway were the “West Side Crips.” In and around the city of Compton, California were the Compton Crips, or, as they are called today, the C.C.Riders (C.C. standing for Compton City).

As the Crips grew in number, it was discovered that other local street gangs had begun to affiliate themselves with the Crips. The Main Street Gangsters soon became the Main Street Crips. Other gangs followed suit, and soon there were the Kitchen Crips, the Five Deuce Crips, the Rolling Twenties Crips, and many others. New gangs were being formed under the Crip banner, but even with all these members and affiliated gangs (known as sets), the Crips did not possess a central organized leadership, and in 1979, the Crips lost both of their founding members. Raymond Lee Washington was killed by a rival gang that year, and later the same year, Stanley “Tookie” Williams was arrested and charged with the murder of four people. He was later convicted in 1981 and sentenced to death. Because of their lack of organizational structure and unity, infighting between the various Crip sets and factions was, and is still, very common. The common enemy of the Crips are the various Blood gangs and sets. Common Crip identifiers include the color blue, and the use of a double “c” in place of the letters “ck” in their written communications (such as “bacc” rather than “back,” or “tricc” rather than “trick,” etc.).

Various Crips Gangs found in Colorado include: the 357 Crips, Altadena Blocc, Avalon Garden, Broadway Gangsters, Carver Park, C.C Riders, Chi Chi Thirties, Compton Crips, Dog City Crips, East Coast Crips, Eight Ball Crips, Eight Trey Gangster Crips, Five Deuce Gangster Crips, Geer Gang, Grape Street Watts, Harlem Thirties (30’s), Hoovers, 81st. Street Hustlers, Kitchen Crips, Montghetto Sixties (60’s), Playboy Gangster Crips (PBG), Playboy Hustler Crips, Pomona Crips, Raymond Ave. Crips, Rolling Thirties (30’s) Gangster Crips, Eight Ball Posse, Crazy Ace Posse, Santana Blocc Crips, and the Shotgun Crips.

Bloods

As the Crips gangs began to branch out into neighborhoods other than their own, taking with them their penchant for assaults, murder, robbery, drug trafficking and other illegal activities, smaller local gangs from these neighborhoods began to band together to protect themselves and their neighborhoods from the Crip

invasion. These small gangs were the beginning of the Bloods street gang.

The gang considered by many to be the original Bloods street gang were the Compton Pirus. Founded by Sylvester Scott and Vincent Owens, the Compton Pirus were comprised of youth who lived on or near Piru street in Compton, California. As they were in the center of Crip territory, it is only logical to assume that they were the first to form an allegiance against the Crips. In 1972, the Compton Pirus called a meeting with the Leuders Park Hustlers, Denver Lanes, the Brims and the Bishops. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the above mentioned Crip invasion into their territory, and how to best deal with it. The result of that meeting was an alliance between these gangs which formed the beginning of the Bloods street gang. Soon other gangs, both established and newly formed, began to align themselves with the Bloods. The Bounty Hunters, the Swans, the Athens Park Boys, the Pueblos, and other street gangs were among the first of many to align themselves with the Compton Pirus, and become part of the Bloods street gangs. Whether they use the terms Pirus, Swans, Brims or Bloods, they are all aligned with the Bloods street gangs, sometimes known as the United Blood Nation, or U.B.N. There are several Hispanic Blood gangs, such as the Deuce Seven (27) Mafia. These Hispanic Blood gangs often align themselves with the Northern Hispanic street gangs while incarcerated, and share a common identifying color – red.

The Bloods quickly established themselves as a formidable enemy for the Crips, however, sometime during the mid to late 1970’s, the Crips began to outnumber the Bloods. Currently the Crips to Bloods ratio is about 3 to 1. The Bloods identify with the color red, and often refer to one another as “Family,” “Relative,” or “Kinfolk.”

Various Blood Gangs found in Colorado include: the Brims, Swans, Pirus, Bounty Hunters, Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Bloods, Denver Lanes, Park Hill Bloods, Deuce Seven Mafia, Inglewood Family Bloods, Leuders Park, Lime Hood, Nutty Block, Pasadena Lanes, and the Van Ness Gangster Bloods. The 187 Ak Huds, although primarily an independent street gang, will align themselves with the Bloods when in prison.

Chicago Based Street Gangs:

Folks vs. People

Of the hundreds of street gangs located within the metropolitan area of Chicago, Illinois, many if not most can be divided into two main groups, the Folk Nation and the People Nation, two of the largest gang alliances found anywhere in the United States today. Although there is infighting within both gang nations, it is clear that all Folk Nation gangs are rivals with the all People Nation gangs, and the inevitable result of this long-standing rivalry (in many cases since the 1950’s) has been an untold number of deaths, not only of gang members, but also many innocent bystanders who have found themselves caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

The Gangster Disciples and the Black Disciples

There are many street and prison gangs which comprise the Folk Nation, of these, however, the Gangster Disciples are the oldest and by far the largest.

The Gangster Disciples are actually an offshoot of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation (originally known as the Devil’s Disciples), which had been founded during the early 1960’s by street criminal and drug dealer, David Barksdale. Throughout the 60’s, the Disciples waged bloody turf and drug wars with rival gangs within

the Chicago area.

During the early 1970’s, as several of the Black Gangster Disciples became incarcerated, they began to form a prison alliance with another Chicago area gang, the Simon City Royals. This was the birth of the Folk Nation. Alliances with other street gangs soon followed, and the Folk Nation grew into a large alliance which has eventually included dozens of gangs such as the Maniac Latin Disciples, the Insane Popes, the Braziers, the Spanish Cobras, and many others.

Barksdale died in 1974, as the result of a drug deal gone bad. However, by the time of his death, “King” David (as he is still known today) had already established what has become the largest street gang in American today. After his death, two separate factions vied for control of the BGDN. Jerome “Shorty” Freeman, who had been Barksdale’s right-hand-man and protégé, was originally set to take over the BGDN. When Freeman was sent to prison, however, another high ranking Disciple, Larry Hoover, seized control. Freeman still considered himself “King,” as did several of the older and original BGDN members. This group, still led by Freeman, are now known as the Black Disciples. Those who have given their allegiance to Hoover (who is now known as “Chairman Hoover” and “King Hoover”) are known as the Gangster Disciples. Both groups are found in large numbers within Colorado. Although these two factions have maintained a long-standing feud throughout the years, both realized that an alliance was needed between their incarcerated members, both for protection and profitable criminal activities behind the prison walls. This alliance, born in 1978, is known as the Brotherhood Of the Struggle (BOS, also known as the “2-15-19”). A female auxiliary of sorts has also been formed among incarcerated female gang members. They refer to themselves as the Sisterhood Of the Struggle (SOS, also known as the 19-15-19).

The Black Disciples are not as well known as the Gangster Disciples, but they are still very active in their various criminal enterprises. The Gangster Disciples, however, have maintained quite a high profile.

Hoover, although incarcerated for the remainder of his life, still controls the GD, and high ranking members of his gang have (at his direction) become active in a number of well publicized operations. Through Hoover’s right-hand-man, Wallace “Gator’ Bradley, the Gangster Disciples have created an organization known as 21st Century V.O.T.E. (Voices Of Total Empowerment), a political activist group designed to promote and elect individuals who could be of use to and possibly controlled by the gang.

The Gangster Disciples have also created the “Black Growth and Development,” the Save Our Children,” and the “Inner City Youth Foundation” organizations, the latter which had been endorsed by former President Clinton for its so-called “Midnight Basketball” games which some believed were merely designed to garner federal funding dollars and to be used as gang recruitment centers.

It is also believed by some experts that through their various front organizations, the Gangster Disciples managed to donate several hundred thousands of dollars to the campaign funds of various political figures.

Although the Gangster Disciples are based in the Chicago area, they are known to maintain over 150 chapters throughout the country. They are known to engage in extortion, intimidation, assaults, theft, drug trafficking, prostitution, robbery, burglary, protection rackets and murder (both retaliation and assassination).

Gangster Disciples and other Folk Nation gangs often utilize a six-pointed star (sometimes with pitchforks), a six pointed crown, and pitchforks in their artwork and tattoos.

Other Folk Nation gangs include: the Ambrose, Ashland Vikings, Black Cobras, Black Gangsters, Black Souls, Campbell Boys, Cash Flow Posse, C Notes, Cullerton Deuces, Hamsterz Boyz, Harrison Gents, Home Boyz, Imperial Gangsters, Inner City Players, Insane Deuces, Insane Dragons, Insane Latin Lovers, Insane Popes, La Raza, Latin Disciples (found in Colorado), Latin Dragons, Latin Eagles, Latin Jivers, Latin Souls, Maniac Latin Disciples (found in Colorado), Mickey Disciples, Milwaukee Kings, Morgan Boyz, New Breed, Orchestra Albany (found in Colorado), Party Knights, Party People, Party Players, Racine Boyz, Ridgeway Lords, Satin Disciples, Simon City Royals (found in Colorado), Sin City Boyz, 6.3.6. F.O.L.K.S., Spanish Cobras, Spanish Gangster Disciples, Spanish Gangsters, Two Ones, Two Sixers, Two Two Boys, United

Latino Organization, Unknown Assassins, X-Men, and the Young Cobras.

The People Nation

Like the Folk Nation, the People Nation is comprised of several Chicago based aligned gangs, such as the Gaylords, the Latin Lords, the Bishops, the War Lords (note: this is not the same as the Colorado street gang of the same name), and many others. Many of the People aligned gangs are smaller neighborhood gangs and subsets of the larger gangs, but there are at least three major gangs within this gang “nation.” They are the Black P Stones, the Vice Lords, and the Latin Kings, all found within Colorado.

The Black P Stones

Originally known as the Blackstone Rangers, the Black P Stones have been in existence since the early 1960’s. Jeff Fort, a member of the Blackstone Rangers took control of the gang in the late 60’s and soon formed an alliance with other street gangs. It was out of these alliances that the Black P Stones were born. Throughout the years, the Black P Stones have undergone several evolutions. From the Blackstone Rangers to the Black P Stones (BPS), to the El Rukns, back to the Black P Stones, and now to the Blackstones. Many of this gangs members may refer to themselves as El Rukns, Black P Stones, BPS, or simply Blackstones. They are, however, all from the same gang.

As with the Gangster Disciples, El Rukn / BPS leader Jeff Fort has tried many times to legitimize his gang in the eyes of law enforcement, politicians, and the general public. In 1969 Fort managed to get himself invited to former President Nixon’s inauguration. The veneer began to fade and the facade crumbled by the 1970’s, however, when Fort was sent to prison for misappropriation of federal funds. During the 70’s and 80’s Fort aligned his gang with Louis Farrakhan and his Nation Of Islam. Some believe the gang was also associated with Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition. In 1986 Fort was again arrested and convicted of “Attempting to Commit a Treasonous Act Against the United States” when he and other El Rukn members established an association with terrorist leader Col. Moammer Gadhafi. Together with the Libyan leader they plotted to engage in terrorist attacks within the United States. Gadhafi promised millions of dollars to Fort and his gang to carry out these attacks on U.S. Targets.

Even with Fort in prison, the El Rukns / BPS are still active in the trafficking of illegal drugs, robbery, extortion, intimidation, assault, and murder. Along with other People Nation gangs, this gang is aggressively challenging the Gangster Disciples and other Folk Nation gangs in various areas.

Vice Lords

Beginning in 1958 at the Illinois State Training School for Boys, with only 66 members, the Vice Lords are recognized as one of the oldest and largest street gangs in the United States today. The Vice Lords consist of a number of sets and chapters such as the Unknown Vice Lords, the Conservative Vice Lords, the Four Corner Hustlers, and many others.

In spite of many Vice Lord leaders being sent to prison for various crimes, the Vice Lord gangs are still very active. Like many of the large street gangs, the incarcerated leaders still manage to effectively run their respective gangs from behind prison walls. The Vice Lords are heavily involved in drug dealing (bringing in tens of thousands of dollars each day), murder, assault, weapons violations, robbery, theft, extortion (including

the extortion of drug money from independent dealers), as well as many other criminal activities.

As are all gangs, the Vice Lords are extremely dangerous. A former leader of the Vice Lord gang, the Four Corner Hustlers, Angelo Roberts, planned to engage in a retaliatory attack upon a Chicago police station after his 1994 release from prison. His weapon of choice, a military issue M72A2 LAWS anti-tank rocket. He was upset because police were cracking down on his illegal drug operations. Although many gang members were arrested in the aborted attack, Roberts himself managed to elude police, until January 16, 1995 when his frozen body was discovered in the trunk of a car. He had had his throat slashed. It is believed he was assassinated not only because of the attention he was drawing to the gang, but also due to his reputed involvement in the July 1994 murder of the gang’s founder, Walter “King” Wheat.

Latin Kings

In spite of their name, the Latin Kings are comprised of Hispanic, White and Black members. Their roots can be traced back to their beginnings as a neighborhood turf gang during the 1940’s in Chicago, Illinois. They have been in continual existence since then, and currently exist in at least fifteen separate sets or factions. The Latin Kings are an enormous gang, with as many as 15,000 members in prison alone. The Latin Kings are actively engaged in drug trafficking, murder, assault, vandalism, extortion, burglary, and related theft. Their penchant for extreme violence is well documented. They have been known to beat, stab, shoot, and often assassinate their own members as forms of discipline for violating established gang rules. Equally well known is their violent ongoing feud with their primary rival, the Folk Nation aligned Maniac Latin Disciples.

The Latin Kings are a highly structured organization, holding not only local councils, but national meetings as well. They possess an established hierarchy and chain-of-command. Latin King leadership positions include Supreme Crown Authorities, Executive Crown Authorities, and Local Crowns in their respective prisons and communities. Two of the most powerful Latin Kings are Raul “Baby King” Gonzales (who controls the north side factions of the gang) and Gustavo “Lord Gino” Colon (who controls the south side factions). Both are convicted murderers and are currently incarcerated. It is believed that Colon may in fact be the Supreme Crown Authority over all Latin Kings. He s currently incarcerated in the Federal Prison System. A gang charter is in place and adherence to it is strictly enforced throughout the gangs membership.

Although the Latin Kings are a Chicago-based gang, they have managed to spread throughout the nation, and are now found in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Colorado, Kansas, California, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Iowa, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and in other major metropolitan areas. Latin King chapters have also been found in Mexico, leading to speculation that they may be heavily involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs from Mexico, Central, and South America into the United States.

Latin Kings, Vice Lords, and other People Nation gangs often utilize a five pointed crown and / or a five point star in their artwork and tattoos.

Other People Nation gangs include: the Almighty Players, Almighty Popes, Arab Posse, Artistic Kents, Assyrian Eagles, Aztecs, Bears, Bishops, Boyz In The Hood, Braziers, Cobrastones, East Side Home Boyz, 11th St. Posse, Four Corner Hustlers (found in Colorado), Future Stones, Gaylords, Ghetto Brothas Organization, Heads, Insane Deuces, Insane Latin Hustlers, Insane Unknowns, Jousters, Kents, La Primera, Latin Brothers, Latin Counts, Latin Lords, Latin Lovers, Latin Pachucos, Latin Saints, Latin Stones, Mickey Cobras, Noble Knights, Pachucos, Park Boys, Party Gents, P R Stones, Saints, Sane, Spanish Lords, Stone Freaks, Stone Gangsters, Twelve Street Players, Vice Lords (including the Conservative Vice Lord Nation, the Unknown Vice Lords, and others – all found in Colorado), and the War Lords (not to be confused with the Northern Hispanic gang of the same name).

Hispanic Gangs:

Today’s Hispanic gang members are primarily aligned with two main factions, the North and the South. The Southern Aligned Hispanic Gang members are known as Sureños (which simply means southerner), and the Northern Aligned Hispanic Gang members are known as Norteños (or northerner).

Southern Aligned Hispanic Gangs (Sureños)

It is believed by many that the “original” Sureños street gang was the Maravilla gang from the Los Angeles area. They are, if nothing else, one of the oldest gangs from that area, originating in the Marianna Maravilla Housing Projects. They were the first to use the letter “M” and the number “13” (now common among Sureños gangs) as gang identifiers. The letter “M” is a reference to both the Maravilla gang and also the Mexican Mafia prison gang (also known as La EME, or “the M”), with whom the Maravilla’s and other Sureños gangs ally themselves. The number “13” is simply a reference to the letter “M” which is the thirteenth letter of the alphabet. The Sureños also identify with the color blue, and will utilize this color, along with other Sureños identifiers, whenever possible in their clothing, artwork, and photos.

Originally California based street gangs, the Sureños have, since the 1980’s, branched out to several western states, and can now be found in Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and other areas as well. When they find themselves incarcerated together, members of, and those aligned with these various Sureños gangs, will often band together to present a unified front, usually for protection and also to provide a wider influence and area of operation for their criminal activities.

Such unification, however, requires not only an allegiance to one’s individual gang, but also an overriding allegiance to the “13” (or unified gang) as a whole. Failure to abide by this primary responsibility to the gang can cost the offending gang aligned individual anything from a severe beating, to having gang related tattoos forcibly cut and torn from their body, to even the assassination of the offending individual. Quite often, when the various Sureños gangs unite themselves in prison, a rudimentary hierarchy will develop as leaders from each state and or gang represented within the prison will be chosen to be a “speaker” or representative for each state or gang represented within the prison.

Although in many cases the various Sureños gangs will associate with and support each other, there are (as is the case of most large gang groups) many rivalries which exist among the Sur’s. Therefore it would be inaccurate to assume that all Sureños gangs will live harmoniously with each other.

There are many Sureños gangs in existence today, and one of the oldest is the White Fence gang of Los Angeles. The White Fence is a multi-generational gang that has been in existence for almost 60 years. They were not necessarily a Sureños gang when they began, however, and only adopted the generic name when other southern California gangs began to associate under the same banner.

Sureños identify with the number 13 (usually incorporating it into their artwork and tattoos) and the color blue. They will sometimes align themselves (when incarcerated, and then usually only for the purpose of illegal activity), with various Hispanic Crip gangs. The Sureños also tend to align themselves with the Mexican Mafia, the New Mexico Syndicate (Sindicato Nuevo Mexico - SNM), the Border Brothers (and Sinaloa Cowboys), the Mara Salvatrucha (a violent gang from El Salvador), and various white supremacist groups. Although the word “Sureño” simply means southern, many Sureños gang members will use the word (in its abbreviated form – SUR) as an acronym for “Southern United Raza.”

Other Sureños gangs found within Colorado include: 18th Street, Los Carnales / East Side Dukes, Los Flamingos, South Side Criminals, Young Crowd, Bessemer Park Locos, Chicanos In Action (CIA), Eastside

Clover, Echo Park 13, El Hoyo Maravilla, El Monte Flores, Florencia 13, Laguna Parque, Little South Side Criminals, Lonely South Side Chicanos, Los Trece, Mara Salvatrucha, Parkside Varrio, Rebels, 719 Little Aces, Southside Posse, Southside Veteranos, and White Fence.

Northern Aligned Hispanic Gangs (Norteños)

As the Sureños gangs grew in number, power, and aggressiveness, other Hispanic gangs (primarily those from the areas north of Delano, California who found themselves to be recurring victims of the Sureños) began to align themselves together as “northerners” or Norteños. Just as the Sureños identified with the prison gang the Mexican Mafia, the Norteños began to identify with the Mexican Mafia’s primary rival, La Nuestra Familia (now known as the Northern Structure). The Norteños identify with the letter “N” (symbolizing the “North” where they originated, and also the Nuestra Familia, or Northern Structure, which is commonly known simply as “La EÑE” or the “N”), and the number “14” (as the letter “N” is the fourteenth letter of the alphabet). They also identify with the color red. The Norteños have managed to branch out to several western states, and will band together when incarcerated together in much the same manner as the Sureños.

Both the Sureños and the Norteños (although to a somewhat lesser degree) engage in the trafficking of illegal drugs, assaults, burglary, theft, vandalism, and even murder.

Other Norteños gangs found within Colorado include: West Wood Huds, Playboys (Greeley), Bellavista, Brown Syndicate, Clanton 14, Medina Family, Nortenos 14, Northside Aztecs, Northside Locos, The Untouchables (UTA), Varrio North Town, and the Warlords.

Gallant Knights Insane (GKI) and the North Side Mafia (NSM)

The Gallant Knights Insane (GKI) and the North Side Mafia (NSM) have had an almost symbiotic relationship for most of their existence.

The GKI began as a small neighborhood street gang known as the West Side Vatos in the mid-1980’s. about this same time, another gang, the Inca Boys also began. Neither gang considered the other a rival, since both were from essentially the same geographical area. Gang rivalries were more geographically centered, and as the West Side Vatos were obviously from the west side they were antagonistic toward their future associates, the North Side Mafia. This changed, however, when an Inca Boy shot a North Side Mafia member. This shooting was followed by another when an Inca Boy was shot by a West Side Vato. These two shootings served to create an alliance between the West Side Vatos and the North Side Mafia, primarily against the Inca Boys, which has lasted to this day.

Not long after the West Side Vatos shooting of an Inca Boy, they began to refer to themselves as “Gangsters Killing Incas” (or the more derogatory Gangsters Killing Stinkas), which they abbreviated as “GKI.” In about 1990, during a party, several of the West Side Vatos were at a party and were referring to themselves as “insane,” saying things such as, “We are insane! We are insane!” and the West Side Vatos / Gangsters killing Incas evolved into the Gallant Knights Insane. They have been known as such since then.

The GKI / NSM alliance suffered a setback in 1994, when again at another party; a fight broke out between GKI members and NSM members. Several from both gangs were injured and relations between the gangs became severely strained. Recently, however, the two gangs have reunited, and are now together under the GKI banner. Original GKI members are known as West Side GKI, and those NSM members who have gone over to the GKI are known as the North Side GKI.

There are still those who refuse to acknowledge this gang merger, and still refer to themselves as North

Side Mafia. They will associate with the GKI, and will augment the GKI ranks in wars or battles against common enemies. They will not, however, allow themselves to be assimilated by the GKI.

Recent intelligence reports have indicated that the GKI has begun branching out, and are currently seeking to begin a satellite gang in southern Denver and Colorado Springs, in areas now controlled by the Sureños street gang. These gangs will be known as the South Side GKI. If this occurs, the GKI will well on their way to becoming a “super” gang rather than a neighborhood gang. Other recent intelligence reports have shown the GKI (who originated in west Denver) to exist in both Nevada and Arizona (the North Side Mafia has also been found in these areas).

The GKI has expanded their recruiting practices to include non-Hispanics, and now solicits members from various white supremacist groups. New GKI members have been found with both Aryan white supremacist and GKI tattoos.

The GKI possess a highly structured hierarchy and chain-of-command. They also possess a gang constitution, by-laws, and a developed system of member discipline.

Independent (not aligned with either the Sureños or Norteños) Hispanic gangs

Although most Hispanic street gangs will align themselves with either the Sureños or the Norteños, there are some who do not. These non-aligned Hispanic gangs are usually (with only a few exceptions) smaller and more limited in the scope of their criminal activities, often to small time drug dealing, vandalism, burglary, and assaults. They will on occasion, however, engage in more serious crimes. They often find themselves preyed upon by both the Sureños and Norteños, as well as their own individual rivals. Members of these gangs will sometimes defect to the larger gangs in order to establish protection for themselves. This will usually occur in a prison setting.

Independent Hispanic gangs found within Colorado include: The Inca Boys, East Side Gangsters, and Fresno Bulldogs (although the Fresno Bulldogs do identify with the color red and the number 14, they are not affiliated with the Northern of Norteño gangs).

Part 2: Prison Gangs:

Although individuals affiliated with street gangs often find themselves incarcerated, and equally often find others from either the same street gang or an allied street gang, they are not necessarily considered prison gangs. And even though prison gang members often continue to engage in activities for their gang when they are released to the streets, and they are often aligned with street gangs, they do not necessarily become street gang members. They are recognizably similar, but street and prison gangs are in reality two entirely different entities.

Prison gangs originate in a correctional setting, and are more often than not more organized and structured than street gangs. Street gangs originate on the streets and are usually very lax in both their structure (if any hierarchical structure exists at all) and in their criminal activities. Rather than planning and organizing illegal actives (as many prison gangs will do), street gangs tend to be impulsive and opportunistic.

Although they do originate on the street, when they find themselves incarcerated, street gang members will often align themselves with an established prison gang. Sureños will often align themselves with the Mexican Mafia (who also exert a major influence on those Sureños still on the streets), Norteños usually align with the Nuestra Familia (Northern Structure) as well as other Northern Aligned prison gangs such as the Los Primer Padres and the Aztecas. Bloods and Crips will usually unite with either the Family or the Moorish Temple, or, as in the case with the California Correctional System, the Black Guerilla Family. The Gangster Disciples and the Black Disciples while adversaries on the streets, often unite to become the Brothers Of the Struggle (BOS) when behind the prison walls.

Although there are a variety of prison gangs found throughout the country, for the purpose of this handout, the following prison gangs will be discussed: The Mexican Mafia, La Nuestra Familia (Northern Structure), The Aryan Brotherhood (AB), the Family, The Texas Syndicate (TS), the 2-11 Crew, the Aztecas, the Los Primer Padres (LPP), the Prison Motorcycle Brotherhood (PMB) / Time Keepers (TK), the Dirty White Boys, and the New Mexico Syndicate (Sindicato Nuevo Mexico - SNM).

The Mexican Mafia

The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, was originally formed in 1957 at the Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy, California, by a group of Hispanic inmates from East Los Angeles, California. At the outset of the gangs formation, it was comprised primarily as a source of protection from other prison gangs and incarcerated street gang members. By the early to mid-1960’s, however, La Eme had become a structured, highly organized, violent and much feared prison gang. La Eme became (and still is) involved in loan sharking, debt collecting, illegal drugs (sales and smuggling), protection, homosexual prostitution, gambling, assaults (both retaliatory and contract-for-hire), and murder (again, both retaliatory and contract-for-hire). In early 1966, La Eme began expanding their criminal streets as well, as incarcerated members were paroled and released from prison.

Today, the Mexican Mafia exerts a strong influence over the Sureños street gangs in southern California. They now have the ability to order the street to engage in and refrain from certain activities. For a short period of time, the Mexican Mafia was able to command the street gangs to stop drive-by shootings. The gangs complied until the order was lifted. Now, in lieu of drive-by’s, gang members are engaging in “walk-ups,” wherein gang members will walk up to their victims to shoot them. This change in tactics was also ordered by the Mexican Mafia. La Eme also demands and received a “tax” from the street gangs. This “tax” is really nothing more than a percentage of the street gangs income derived from the sale of illegal drugs and other

criminal activities.

In late 1967, an Hispanic inmate was stabbed to death at the San Quentin prison in California. An investigation revealed that the murder had been ordered directly by the leadership of the Mexican Mafia. This was the first recorded murder committed by the Mexican Mafia. Tensions were high throughout the facility as other non-La Eme Hispanic inmates threatened to retaliate. Threats were both made and taken seriously. Subsequent investigating revealed that the inmate had actually been a member of La Eme, and had been stealing drug proceeds from the gang. Apparently La Eme did not take being “burned” lightly. As soon as this information became known by the remainder of the inmate population, tensions eased and the talk among the inmates was that the killing had been justified.

Within weeks, however, La Eme struck again and killed another Hispanic inmate. Again tensions were high throughout the prison. Soon, the non-La Eme inmates within the prison to realize just how violent and deadly the Mexican Mafia was, and they began to form a new gang as a means of self-protection. The majority of the new gangs members were from the areas of California north of the city of Delano, California, and they adopted the name Nuestra Familia (which translates as “Our Family”).

In late 1968, an incident occurred which firmly established the long standing rivalry between the two gangs. Hector Padilla, a member of the Nuestra Familia had a pair of dress shoes stolen from him by a low ranking member of the Mexican Mafia. The La Eme member took the shoes and gave them to another inmate, Robert “Robot” Salas, who happened to be a high ranking La Eme member. When Padilla found Salas wearing his shoes, he accused Salas of stealing them and he attacked Salas. During the fight, Padilla was stabbed several times and subsequently died from his wounds. In retaliation, several Nuestra Familia members ambushed the Mexican Mafia as they entered the South Cell Block at San Quentin. The fight that occurred in that cell block resulted in seventeen stabbing victims, and one fatality. The warfare between the two gangs that began on that day continues still.

The Mexican Mafia is extremely powerful and dangerous. They are not afraid of being shot, stabbed, or killed, and the thought of incarceration, whether initial or additional, will not prevent them from carrying out any order relayed by the Mexican Mafia leadership. The reason for this is quite simple. Most members know that without any doubt, if they fail to obey La Eme, La Eme will kill them without hesitation.

Membership in the Mexican Mafia is attained only by sponsorship by a respected La Eme member. Once a potential member is recommended, the “recruit” will be given an assignment in order to evaluate the recruits abilities. Status within the gang is dependent upon the individual members own abilities. It is generally understood that the more brutal and violent the member, the higher the rank that member will achieve. Membership in La Eme is for life, and it is not possible to leave the gang voluntarily. There is no known La Eme constitution, but they do have a creed by which all members are expected to abide. “A member is to share all and everything. To have one leader to boss all members, and to swear their lives to the group with the understanding that death is the failure to comply with the codes of the group. Once an inmate is accepted into the group, he cannot drop out.”

The Mexican Mafia has not stopped growing, neither in membership nor in the extent of their criminal activities. They continually expand their activities into the territory of other gangs, and even into areas controlled by the Nuestra Familia, namely San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco. It is strongly believed that the Mexican Mafia has strong ties to the Mexican and South American Drug Cartels. It is believed they possess a large ranch in the interior of Mexico which serves as a base of operations for what has become an international drug trade.

The Mexican Mafia has also started infiltrating legitimate ethnic organizations and drug rehabilitation programs, presumably in a effort to gain access to the federal dollars given to these programs by the United States Government. At one time, Mexican Mafia godfather Joe Morgan was appointed Vice-president of Community Concern, a federally funded civic group in Los Angeles, California.

The Mexican Mafia maintains alliances with the Aryan Brotherhood, Arizona’s Old Mexican Mafia,

Mexikanemi, the New Mexico Syndicate (Sindicato Nuevo Mexico - SNM), (some) Sureños street gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha, the Border Brothers and the Sinaloa Cowboys. Their primary enemies include the Nuestra Familia / Northern Structure, Arizona’s New Mexican Mafia, the Black Guerilla Family, and various Black Street gangs.

The Nuestra Familia (aka: N.F./ La Ene / Northern Structure, or N.S.)

The Nuestra Familia began in the mid-1960’s in California’s Soledad Correctional Facility as a form of protection from the Mexican Mafia (their primary enemies). The gang is comprised primarily of California Hispanic’s from areas north of Delano, California. Northern aligned Hispanic street gang members also may join the gang.

Due to increased awareness by Correctional administrators in the early 1980’s, and the resulting pressure placed on the Nuestra Familia, the gang formed an off-shoot gang known as the Northern Structure in order to continue Nuestra violence and criminal activities.

The Nuestra Familia / Northern Structure both possess separate written constitutions. The Northern Structure is structured in three “categories” or levels, with each level being separate from the rest, and none completely aware of the others activities. Many Northern Structure members are unsure about the gangs organizational structure or from where its orders originate. This type of information is usually kept from the first two levels, and only revealed to those in the third or highest level.

Although not as large as their primary rivals, the Mexican Mafia, the Nuestra Familia is somewhat better organized in that they possess a ranking structure and constitution. Membership is for life, and adherence to the gangs oath is a fundamental requirement of all N.F. members. This oath states, “If I go forward, follow me. If I hesitate, push me. If they kill me, avenge me. If I am a traitor, kill me.”

At the top of the Nuestra Familia hierarchy is the “General.” There is only one, and it is he who maintains absolute control over the gang, and his power is unlimited. The N.F. headquarters are considered to be at whatever facility or street address in which the General resides. Under the General are ten Captains. Of these, one Captain is considered to be the number one Captain, and it is he who will succeed the General in the event of the General’s death or inability to lead the gang. All other Captains are of equal rank. Below the Captains are an unlimited number of Lieutenants. Among their other duties, the Lieutenants are required to maintain an accurate list of the N.F.’s enemies and to make this list available to his Captain. Lieutenants are also required to ensure that each soldier under his command has at least two weapons available at all times.

Below the Lieutenants are Soldiers and Warriors. The lowest rank is the Soldier, and rank is attained by the number of “hits” (either assaults or murders) a Soldier is involved in. When a Soldier makes a hit, but not a kill, he receives the rank of Warrior. A Warrior is required to make three “stars” (murders) in order to achieve the rank of Lieutenant, and a Lieutenant must make five stars to be eligible for the rank of Captain. However, since there are only ten Captains at any given time in the N.F., promotion to Captain is not automatic. Leadership abilities of those eligible for the rank of Captain are also taken into consideration. If any member murders any one whose name appears on the N.F.’s list of “ten most wanted” enemies, then that individual is automatically promoted to Lieutenant.

As with the Mexican Mafia, the Nuestra Familia has expanded their criminal activities to the streets. They are heavily involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs, and are known to have street chapters in several cities. The Nuestra Familia has recently started another off-shoot gang, known as the “Generation of United Norteños” (or G.U.N.).

The Primary enemies of the Nuestra Familia include the Mexican Mafia, the Texas Syndicate,

Mexikanemi, the Fresno Bulldogs, The New Mexico Syndicate (Sindicato Nuevo Mexico - SNM), the Aryan Brotherhood, and various Sureños street gangs.

The Aztecas

The Aztecas are a relatively new prison gang, established in mid-2000 by members of various Northern Hispanic street gang members. The Aztecas are northern aligned, and will therefore align themselves with other northern Hispanic gangs such as the Nuestra Familia, Los Primer Padres, Gallant Knights Insane (GKI), North Side Mafia (NSM), Westwood Huds, Warlords, and others. Due to the close similarities between the Aztecas and the Nuestra Familia (both in the initial forming of the gang and in the organizational rankings and constitutions), it could be said that the Aztecas are Colorado’s version of the Nuestra Familia.

A written “plan-of-action” outlining the gangs development, as well as an under-development gang constitution, detailed ranking structure, and gang membership oath were confiscated during a cell search. Mention of a “Death Oath” in the gangs plan-of-action reveals the inherent danger of this burgeoning prison gang.

The Aztecas immerse themselves in the cultural history of the Aztec people, a Central American Native Indian tribe who inhabited the southern portion of Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century, and they will often utilize Aztec symbols and phraseology in their artwork, tattoos, and written communications.

The Azteca Oath of Membership reads as follows, “I (members name) dedicate my life to the Azteca ways of life and I hereby dedicate my life to the Azteca carnales for life. No ratting shall be tolerated. This will be dealt with to the fullest extreme. The penalty on ratting on one of the carnales is death. All things of value will distributed among each other. I know when called upon I must back up my carnale to the fullest or face the penalty of death. I know this is not a gang, but an organization so no gang banging will be tolerated. I know once I take this oath it’s for life and death is the only way out! I (members name) have read this oath in the presence of my Azteca carnales and fully understand it and agree with the laws of the Azteca organization. POR VIDA!”

The Azteca ranking structure consists of at least five different levels. The first level is of the “Miqurti,” or Warrior. The Azteca Warrior is the gangs foot soldier, and must perform a violent act, usually an assault, stabbing, or murder (known as a “Blood Mission”) in order to receive the second rank which is the “Tecpatl,” or “Swordsman.”

The Azteca Swordsman is required to engage in future “Blood Missions and, in all likelihood is a gang enforcer armed with (or with easy access to) a knife, or “shank.” The Swordsman is allowed a bit more trust than a Warrior, as he has already proven his loyalty to the gang by the commission of his first Blood Mission.

The third rank of the Aztecas, and the lowest of the three leadership ranks, is the “Cuauhtli,” or Eagle Knight. The Eagle Knights must exhibit a willingness to perform Blood Missions and the ability to generate capital for the gang. They must also possess some leadership capabilities as they are the intermediary level between the gangs leadership and its rank and file members, responsible for relaying orders from the leadership to the Warriors and Swordsmen.

The fourth rank and second in command of the Azteca gang is the “Ocelotl,” or Jaguar Knight. The Jaguar Knight is responsible only to the gangs leader, known as the “Otomi,” or General. It is the Jaguar Knight who will replace the General if and when the General is unable to continue in a position of leadership within the gang.

The Aztecas and those affiliated with them are involved in assaults, drugs, inmate stores, protection and extortion rackets, and have the potential to become extremely dangerous.

The New Mexico Syndicate

(Sindicato Nuevo Mexico - SNM)

The New Mexico Syndicate (also known as the Sindicato Nuevo Mexico, or SNM) was formed in the late 1970’s and gained some degree of notoriety after the infamous riot at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Sante Fe. They are closely aligned with the Mexican Mafia, and have a similar philosophy. The SNM is one of the most violent and brutal prison gangs in existence today, outshining even the Mexican Mafia and the Aryan Brotherhood in the degree of their brutality.

The SNM has an established chain-of-command, at the top of which is the gangs overall leader (known as the “Don”) who presides over a group of established and well respected governing members known as “The Panel.” The rank and file members are known as soldiers, and it is the soldiers who commit the vast majority of the SNM’s crimes.

The Texas Syndicate

The Texas Syndicate (TS) originated in California’s Folsom Prison during the 1970’s, primarily as a means to protect Texas inmates in the California system from being victimized by the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia.

In recent years, the Texas Syndicate has opened its membership to inmates from various Central and South American countries, such as Mexico and Columbia. The gang also has members from Cuba. This could lead one to suspect the TS of moving into the lucrative international drug trade.

Texas Syndicate members refer to one another as “Carnal,” and to groups of TS members as “Carnales.” A TS recruit is known as a “Cardinal,” and the TS leader of any facility where the TS is found in sufficient numbers is known as a “Chairman.” Virtually all TS members will have some form of the initials “TS” tattooed on their body, and in their artwork.

The primary enemies of the Texas Syndicate include the Aryan Brotherhood, La Nuestra Familia, the Mexican Mafia, Mexikanemi, and the Mandingo Warriors. They have developed a loose association with the Texas Mafia and have started an off-shoot gang of white supremacists known as the Dirty White Boys.

The Border Brothers

The Borders Brothers are a loose-knit alliance of Mexican nationals, both on the street and within the correctional system. They are primarily involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs, and the manufacture of same. They have been involved in numerous assaults as well. A sub-group of the Border Brothers are the Sinaloa

Cowboys. These are Border Brothers who are from the Mexican state of Sinaloa, considered by many to be the drug capital of Mexico. In Mexico, the Sinaloa Cowboys are known enforcers for many of the major drug cartels in Mexico, such as the Arellano Brothers Cartel, and others.

The Border Brothers will often, but not always, align with the Sureños gangs, especially when incarcerated, and they will often tattoo themselves with the “13” as is commonly used by the Sureños gangs. In Colorado, however, this has not been the case. In the Colorado prison system, Sureños gang members have assaulted Border Brothers, reportedly because they do not feel the Border Brothers to be worthy of wearing the “13.”

Border Brothers may sport tattoos which contain the number “22” (the number being representative of the letter “B,” thus, “22” = “BB”). They may also have the name of their home or birth state in Mexico incorporated in their tattoos (i.e.: “Michoacan 22,” or “2 Chihuahua 2”).

The Fresno Bulldogs

The Fresno Bulldogs began in the mid-1980’s in Fresno, California as the F-14 gang. They have been involved in numerous violent crimes, some of which have been noted by law enforcement professionals for the high level of sophistication employed by the gang in the commission of these crimes.

The Fresno Bulldogs take their name from the athletic teams of the California State University at Fresno – The Fresno Bulldogs. The gang has also adopted the teams mascot (a bulldog), logo, and color (red) as their own. Although the gang identifies with the number 14, and the color red as do the Northern Hispanic street gangs, the Fresno Bulldogs are not aligned with the them. The Fresno Bulldogs and the Northern Hispanic street gangs are in most instances rivals and enemies.

The Aryan Brotherhood

The Aryan Brotherhood finds its origins in a 1950’s prison gang known as the Diamond Tooth Gang. This gang eventually evolved into the Bluebird gang, so named due to the members tattoo of a bluebird on their necks. As white supremacist philosophies became increasingly influential in the gang, they became simply known as the Nazi’s. The gang was (and still is) comprised solely of white inmates, and they have always been known to be hostile to blacks, and the over-riding philosophies of the Aryan Brotherhood are a mixture of white supremacy, Irish ancestry, and Norse / Viking symbolism and history. Many members and affiliates embrace the Asatru religion. The leadership of these gang(s) eventually formed what is now known as the Aryan Brotherhood.

As with many prison gangs, membership in the Aryan Brotherhood is for life, and defection is grounds for assassination. Aryan Brotherhood members are very serious about this, and have no qualms about killing their friends who have tried to leave the gang. They have a “blood in, blood out” membership requirement (members must commit a violent act, and is known as “making your bones”), and potential members can only be recommended for membership by current members who are in good standing with the gang, and then only after a trial period wherein the new recruit can be given several assignments in order to gauge his abilities, potential, and loyalty. After this trial period, the recruit must then be accepted unanimously by the entire gang. Only one dissenting vote is enough to reject the recruit.

Due to their extensive criminal activities and violent nature, most prison authorities have segregated Aryan Brotherhood members in an attempt to curtail these activities. As a result, the Aryan Brotherhood has helped nurture, support, and organize a new white supremacist gang known as the Nazi Low Riders (NLR).

With this group being active both in correctional facilities and on the streets, the Aryan Brotherhood has been able to expand some of their lucrative drug trade to the streets. It is possible that with the ease of methamphetamine manufacture and the increase of its use, the Aryan Brotherhood may move its main base of operations from the prisons to the streets, creating additional adversaries among street gangs already heavily involved in the methamphetamine trade. The Aryan Brotherhood have also been involved in assaults, escape attempts, extortion and murder.

The Aryan Brotherhood members are ranked by authority with Captains at each facility and a President and two Vice-presidents holding authority over each state they are found in. There is a “Commission” of top ranking AB members who maintain an overall leadership of the gang. The gang maintains a strict “code-of-silence” and secrecy involving their activities, and it is extremely difficult to extract information about the gang from its members affiliates. Most of the gangs criminal activities are not committed by the gangs members themselves, but rather by inmates attempting to gain status and / or recognition within the group. This serves to insulate the gangs leaders from persecution for these same activities.

Aryan Brotherhood members will often the initials “AB” incorporated in to their tattoos, as well as tattoos of shamrock clover leafs (often with the number 6 on each leaf, as in 666). They will also utilize common white supremacist tattoos such as S.S. lightning bolts, Viking Warriors, Swastikas, etc. Gang members often refer to themselves and each other as “Sinn Fein” (pronounced “SHINN-FAYN”), which is an Irish phrase loosely translated as “We ourselves.”

The primary enemies of the Aryan Brotherhood include the Black Guerilla Family (BGF), Crips, Bloods, and both Folk and People Nation gangs. They maintain associations with the Mexican Mafia and the Hell’s Angels, the Nazi Low Riders, and various other white supremacist groups.

The Nazi Low Riders

The Nazi Low Riders (NLR) formed in the mid-1970’s by inmates at the California Youth Authority’s Preston School of Industry. By the late 1980’s the Aryan Brotherhood began to help the NLR organize, and the now utilize the NLR to commit crimes for the AB leadership. The NLR has also adopted a ranking structure similar to the AB’s, as well as a “blood in, blood out” policy of membership (meaning prospective members must commit a serious act of violence in order to achieve gang membership). The NLR has become one of the fastest growing prison / street gangs in the United States today, and is well known for being brutally violent. The NLR have been involved in numerous assaults on both inmates and staff. Although primarily a prison gang (as it was first formed in a correctional setting), it is also recognized as a street gang due to their extensive membership and activities on the streets.

NLR members will often have tattoos bearing the letters NLR (and in some cases the gangs complete name spelled out), as well as the standard white supremacist tattoos including Viking warriors, swastikas, S.S. lightning bolts, pictures of Adolph Hitler, and other Nazi imagery.

Although the NLR is a white supremacist gang, it does allow members to be of a mixed ethnicity such as white / Hispanic, or white / Asian. No blacks are allowed. The basic rule of thumb they use is, “you must be at least half white, but no black blood allowed.”

The NLR consider Blacks, Jews and Northern Hispanics (i.e.: The Nuestra Familia / Northern Structure) to be their main enemies. They consider all other white supremacist groups, with the exception of the Aryan Brotherhood, to be subordinate to them. They are known to recruit from the ranks of the Peckerwoods (a white supremacist gang), and various skin head gangs such as the Insane White Boys. Many skin head gangs have formed allegiances with the NLR. Two such groups are believed to be the Nazi Hit Squad (NHS) and the Vicious Circle (VC). Both are white supremacist youth gangs.

The NLR has been involved in debt collection, burglaries, auto theft, extortion and protection scams,

assaults, home invasion robberies, murder, witness intimidation, and the manufacture, sale, and smuggling of methamphetamine. The NLR have been found in California, Arizona, Florida, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Utah. When writing to other NLR members and affiliates, they will sometimes utilize the phrases, “Never Lose Respect,” or “No Longer Running.” The common denominator being the initials N.L.R. The purpose for this is to identify themselves as NLR to the letters receiver. They also tend to use their moniker in conjunction with their home town, or town / city of operation, such as “Bopper from Las Vegas,” or “Desperado from Denver.”

The 211 Crew

Although the 211 Crew began on the streets, it is now a full fledged prison gang. In the mid-1990’s a small group of young friends formed the 211 Crew as a gang dedicated to the commission of robbery in its various forms. The gangs name is derived from the California Penal Code for armed robbery (2-11). After incarceration in Colorado’s Lookout Mountain School for Boys, the gang’s founder began to recruit new members among his fellow inmates. Among the first of these new recruits, was a young man who went by the moniker “Scorpio,” who possessed a strong adherence to white supremacist philosophies. With the addition of Scorpio to the ranks of the 211, other white supremacists were attracted to the gang, and before long, it became known as a white supremacist gang.

Currently, the 211 Crew boasts well over four dozen members and associates throughout the Colorado prison system, with many many more living within the state’s civilian population. Membership appears to be growing through recruitment both in the prison system and on the streets. As members who have been released and later find themselves re-arrested and held in the county jail systems, it is certain they will begin recruiting among the county inmates, who will then enter the state system as full-fledged members of the 211 Crew.

Although somewhat disorganized, the 211 Crew leadership is working toward rectifying that problem. They already possess a rudimentary hierarchy with a “House of Governing Commission” and an overall gang leader who goes by the title “Boss of Bosses.” The gang also installs leaders within each prison where the 211 Crew members are incarcerated in sufficient numbers. They are currently drafting a set of by-laws (which may already be in effect by the time you read this), as well as developing an Internet Web Site.

The 211 Crew are involved in loan sharking, drug trafficking, and assaults. They have the potential to be very dangerous, and have already shown that they will not hesitate to assault those whom they feel are deserving of it. They are making contacts with Outlaw Motorcycle Gang members to possibly expand their drug trade.

Those associated with the 211 Crew refer to themselves as either the 211, the two-one-one, or the I.M.C. (Ill Mob Click). Potential members will often say to current members the “want to be Ill.” High ranking 211 members will often wear a tattoo of either a shamrock and /or the letter I.M.C. behind their right ear. Members will also usually have white supremacist and Irish Pride tattoos. They often communicate using runic symbols and the German language.

The gang’s founder, who went by the moniker Snoopy, became disillusioned with the white supremacist direction the gang was taking, and attempted to leave the gang. Other gang members ordered an assault on him and he was “beat out” of the gang. He has since started a new gang currently known as “The Davis Family.”

The Dirty White Boys

The Dirty White Boys originated in the federal correctional system in 1985, as an offshoot of the Texas Syndicate. They are found throughout the nation in several state and federal correctional systems. They associate with the Aryan Brotherhood and other white supremacist groups. In many cases, they will also align with the Mexican Mafia. The Dirty White Boys are primarily involved in assaults, theft, and drugs.

The Black Guerilla Family

The Black Guerilla Family (BGF) is a militant black terrorist organization founded in 1966 in the San Quentin Correctional facility in California, by former Black Panther George L. Jackson (who was killed in a 1971 escape attempt). It is based on the communist philosophies of Karl Marx, Lenin, and Mao-Tse-Tung.

The group promotes hatred of whites, and both the racial supremacy and separatism of blacks. They advocate the violent and forceful overthrow of any and all governmental agencies, including all those at the federal, state and local levels, as well as all law enforcement agencies. The BGF has been responsible for numerous violent assaults and murders of correctional staff.

The BGF is a highly organized security threat group, possessing a formalized rank structure which consists of a Central Executive Committee, Field Generals, Captains-of-Arms, Captains-of-Squads, Lieutenants, and Soldiers. All members ultimately report to and are responsible to the members of the Executive Committee. It is this group which controls the organization, utilizing many methods including a carefully prepared Organizational Constitution and Code of Ethics, which contain specific punishments for violations of the groups many rules and regulations.

The BGF maintains four primary rules of discipline. They are:

1. The individual is subordinate to the family.

2. The minority is subordinate to the majority.

3. The lower level is subordinate to the higher.

4. The entire membership is subordinate to the Central Executive Committee.

The BGF has, for several years existed at a level of stagnation with regard to its membership. Most of the younger blacks arriving in prison have been aligned with one street gang or another. With the more militant black supremacy groups gaining acceptance and influence in the correctional setting (such as the New Black Panther Party led by former Nation of Islam minister Khalid Muhammad), the BGF has experienced a moderate amount of attention among younger black inmates.

The primary enemies of the Black Guerilla Family include the Aryan Brotherhood, the Texas Syndicate, and the Mexican Mafia.

The Family of All Nations

The Family of All Nations (also known as The Family) is a militant black separatist organization founded in the mid to late 1980’s at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City, Colorado, by George White and other inmate members of the Moorish Science Temple. George Whites birthday is considered to be “Family

Day” by members of the Family

The Family possesses a structured hierarchy consisting of a Crown Royal – the organizations overall leader, various Crowns (or facility leaders), facility Tribunals, Heads of Security, Security Officers, and Enforcers. The Family are also known to possess both general and specific by-laws and an established disciplinary code.

The Family accepts gang members from many different, and often rival gangs as its members. All members are, however, required to pledge allegiance to the Family above any allegiance to any other gang the member may be a part of.

Family members have been involved in extortion, assaults, intimidation, inmate stores, prostitution, and at least one possible murder.

Intelligence is still being gathered on this group.

Prison gangs located within Colorado include: The Mexican Mafia, Black Guerilla Family, Aryan Brotherhood, Texas Syndicate, La Nuestra Familia (Northern Structure), 211 Crew (White), Los Primer Padres (a norteno prison gang - but will support the GKI in common causes), Aztecas (a notreno prison gang - but has reported that they will support the Sureños in common causes), The Family, P.M.B. / Time Keepers (a biker / WS / drug gang), Syndicato Nuevo Mexico (primarily through interstate compact incarcerations).

Part Three: Racial Supremacist & Separatist Hate Groups, & Extremist Groups:

White Racial Supremacist & Separatist Hate Groups

The most basic common belief shared by all White Racial Supremacist and Separatist Hate Groups is the belief that all non-white races are inferior in every way to whites. This belief is manifested not only in their writings, but also in their actions. From the Klan’s burning crosses and lynching’s, to the vicious stomping’s inflicted by skin heads around the country, and the racially motivated murders inspired by the Aryan Nations.

Aryan Nations, KKK, Skin Heads

The Aryan Nations, the Ku Klux Klan, and the various Skin Head groups share (at least to a degree) a common ancestral lineage. All are anti-Semitic, anti-black, anti-minority, anti-government (believing the American government has been overtaken by ZOG – the Zionist Occupational Government), and truly they are anti-anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Each group promotes violence to varying extremes, and each group preaches hate in its most virulent forms.

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) originated in the southern states of Post-Civil War America. The purpose of this organization was to inflict fear in the hearts of black Americans and those who were sympathetic to their sufferings and plight. The KKK has undergone several incarnations and revivals in its 100+ years of existence, however, the level of hate and violence has remained consistent throughout it all. Currently, there are several relatively independent KKK groups (most representing themselves as local or regional KKK chapters) located throughout the United States.

The Aryan Nations was founded by Christian Identity minister and KKK member, Richard Butler in the mid-1970’s. Originally, the Aryan Nations was a paramilitary hate ministry of Butler’s Christian Identity Church of Jesus Christ Christian, however, later the two affiliated factions merged into one.

The Aryan Nations promotes virulent anti-Semitism and the establishment of a white racist state. During the 1980’s, several of Butler’s followers joined members of the neo-Nazi National Alliance and several KKK groups to form the Silent Brotherhood (aka: The Order), which planned to overthrow the United States government. Butler sanctioned The Order, and provided them with sanctuary at his Aryan Nation compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

The Order engaged in (with Butler’s support and blessing), murder, counterfeiting, bank and armored car robberies. The group is perhaps best known for its violent and bloody assassination of controversial Denver talk-radio host, Alan Berg.

Although Butler lost his Hayden Lake compound due to litigation brought against him as a result of actions committed by his followers, and the incarceration of several members of The Order, both groups are alive, well, and active today.

Skinheads can trace their origins to the so-called working man movement in 1970’s England. The style of dress, music, and violent attitude’s of these English skinheads attracted many young white supremacists in America, particularly those with ties to other white supremacist groups, and the movement made the leap across the Atlantic to this country.

Skinheads in the United States are perhaps the most violent of the white supremacist groups in this

country. They will attack with very little provocation, and in some cases with no provocation at all. They have committed several murders, some extremely violent in nature as they used their Doc Marten boots to literally stomp their victims to death.

White racial supremacist / separatist groups found within Colorado include:

American Third Position [racist] (Arvada), Underground Skinhead Action (Battlement Mesa), Aryan Nations/Aryan National Alliance (De Beque), National Alliance (Denver), MSR Productions [racist] (Wheat Ridge), Skin Heads (Denver Area Skin Heads - DASH, Confederate Hammerskins - CHS, others throughout the state), White Aryan Resistance [WAR] (Denver metro area), Asatru Free Assembly [Asatru], John Birch Society, Ku Klux Klan (National Knights of the KKK - Littleton; Rangers of the Cross KKK - Watkins), Wotan’s Volk, White Stag, Raging Viking Brotherhood (RVB). Christian Identity Churches found within Colorado include: World Church of the Creator (Internet access plus many adherents throughout the Colorado white supremacist movement), Melchizedek Vigilance Church (Denver), Scriptures for America Ministries Church (La Porte).

Extremist Groups

Militias, Patriots, and Constitutionalist Groups

The terms “Militias, Patriots, and Constitutionalists” are virtually synonymous, and refer to groups of individuals who are, for the most part, disenchanted with and extremely distrustful of the various governmental entities within the United States. They often refer to these governmental entities as ZOG, or the Zionist Occupational Government. Many adherents of these groups possess anti-Semitic views and believe the government has been overtaken by individuals sympathetic to Israel and the Jews.

The various groups will respond in a myriad of ways to the government and its many laws. Militias are more paramilitary oriented, and often engage in military like training in preparation of their overthrow of the government, by violent means if necessary. Patriots often see themselves as the only true Americans, and are closely aligned with the many militia groups found throughout the country. Constitutionalists tend to adhere to a “common law” philosophy, and will print their own driver’s licenses, license plates, citizenship papers, and the like. They have been known to file numerous liens for various reasons against the homes and other property of government employees, all in an attempt to disrupt the judicial system. Perhaps the most well known of the Constitutionalist groups are the Freemen, who staged an extended siege in Montana against the FBI during the 1990’s.

Among these groups there exists a sub-group of extremely violent adherents. They call themselves the Phonies Priesthood, or Identity Warriors. They are more than willing to engage in what they refer to as the

“American Jihad,” a holy war they believe that they are not only divinely called to wage, but one they will win as well. They think of themselves as the “Vigilantes of Christendom.”

Members of the Phineas Priesthood base their name and calling on Numbers chapter 25, and Obadiah chapter 18 in the Old Testament, and they will often utilize the number 25 in their writings, artwork, and tattoos as a means of identification.

Militias, Patriot & Constitutionalist groups found in Colorado include:

Constitution Party (Arvada), Southern Colorado Unorganized Militia (Colorado Springs), Sons of Liberty (Fort Collins), Colorado State Defense Force Reserve (Golden), American Freedom Network (Johnstown), Gospel Plow (Sedalia), The Freemen (supporters throughout the state), We The People (Longmont), The Common Law Court (Denver), Committee to Restore the Constitution (Fort Collins), U.S. Taxpayers Party (Kittredge & Watkins), National Commodity & Barter Assoc. (Longmont), Wake-up Call America (Lakewood), and various small Tax Resistance Groups located throughout the state. There are also many individuals who support these groups and hold similar beliefs living within the state.

Eco-Terrorist Groups

The Earth Liberation Front (ELF)

The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), is a radically militant eco-terrorist organization, which utilizes extensive vandalism to harm individuals and organizations they deem a threat to the environment. They are an off-shoot of the North American Liberation Front, which is based in Portland, Oregon.

ELF has been responsible for causing over 40 million dollars in property damage, including the highly publicized 1998 ski resort fires in Vail, Colorado. ELF claimed the resort was encroaching on a lynxes habitat. They have also claimed responsibility for the destruction of a $2.5 million home in Niwot, Colorado on November 27, 2000, building fires in Long Island, New York on December 30, 2000 (causing over $80,000 in damage), $1 million in damages at a lumber company in Monmouth, Oregon, freeing 5,000 minks from a mink ranch in Hermansville, Michigan, destroying the offices of Cascade Lumber in Lansing, Michigan, vandalizing and burning genetic research laboratories at Michigan State University, the burning of a luxury home in Indiana, uprooting an entire cornfield at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, the sabotage of highway construction in Louisiana, and several other acts of radical vandalism, arson, and property damage.

ELF members (who refer to themselves as elves), have been known to spike trees marked for cutting by lumber companies, causing damage to equipment, as well as serious injury to workmen. The spiking of trees involves the insertion of spikes and large nails into the trunks of marked trees in order to sabotage the saws when they strike the hidden spikes. When the saws make contact with the spikes, they often buck and jump back at the workers causing injury.

The Earth Liberation Front possesses no central leadership, no chain of command, and no membership rolls. They operate in several individual cells, much as religious terrorists do. As a result, they are very difficult to apprehend, and it is virtually impossible to gather any form of intelligence on the group. They are closely aligned with the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), who engage in similar activities.

Extremist Groups Found Within Colorado include:

The Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F.), Earth First!, and The Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F.).

Part Four: Monitored Religious Groups:

There are several religious groups operating within the Colorado Department of Corrections which are monitored for any activities which may possibly pose a threat to the security of the facilities within which they exist. This is not to say that these particular groups are necessarily a threat, however, there seem to exist within these groups, individuals which have expressed a tendency to take the groups philosophies and teachings to a militant or radical extremist-like level.

The monitoring of these groups serves a two-fold purpose. First, and most importantly, monitoring serves to provide the facility administration with an understanding of the group’s basic beliefs and thus providing a standard of measure with which to gauge the level of the extremist individuals activity.

Secondly, monitoring also provides the administration with advanced notice of any extremist individuals’ attempts to control, manipulate, or take over a particular group, or the exertion of any undue manipulation or coercion of the groups more moderate members. Monitored religious groups within the Colorado Department of Corrections include the Moorish Science Temple of America, the Nation of Islam, FUQRA, the Black Hebrew Israelites, Christian Identity, and the Asatru groups.

Asatru

Asatru (which in Norse means “Belief in the gods”) is the common name for the Asatru Free Assembly and other related groups based on a Norse Neo-pagan religious belief system. The Asatru Free Assembly was founded in Breckenridge, Texas during the early 1970’s by Stephen A. McNallen during his incarceration in the State Department of Corrections. McNallen publishes the groups quarterly newsletter, The Runestone.

Of the various groups which ascribe to the Asatru ideology, there are many Odinist groups (such as the Odinist Fellowship and the Odinist Committee), and the Asatru Folks. Common symbols of these groups may include the inverted Thor’s Hammer, the Swastika, Sun Wheels, and S.S. Lightning Bolts. These symbols may worn as jewelry (such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings), or as tattoos. They may also appear in artwork created by Asatru adherents.

The Asatru belief system revolves around the worship of Norse gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, Freya, Nerthus, and Frigg. These groups believe in a rejection of established authority, displays of courage, loyalty, and brotherhood to one another. They also promote belief in overt stands against bureaucracy, reincarnation, sexual freedom without guilt, a harmonious relationship between mankind and nature, observances of the various solstices and astronomical changes in the moon and stars, and that each man alone is the master of his own soul, salvation and destiny.

Some Asatru groups promote the genetic superiority of the white race, and have incorporated a racist element within their belief system and religious practices that is similar to Anglo-Israelism, Aryanism, and other white supremacy groups. There are also some Asatru groups which practice animal sacrifices, an element which has lead some to see a connection between Asatru and satanic religious groups.

Christian Identity Movement

“Christian Identity” (sometimes known as “Israel Identity”) is the name of a religious movement which has united a large percentage of the white supremacist groups located within the United States. The Identity

movement began in 1946, as a conglomeration of Anglo-Israelism teachings which were merged with Ku Klux Klan and Nazi extremism, and brought together by Wesley Swift and his Identity Church of Jesus Christ. The Christian Identity (CI) movement promotes racism and violence by teaching that the white race is the only true or pure race, and has been chosen by God as His people. CI teaches that all non-white races, particularly Jews and Blacks, are the seed of Satan, and the result of a believed sexual union between Eve and the serpent in the garden of Eden. CI adherents refer to Jews and Blacks as “Kenites” and “Mud people.”

In recent years, Skin Heads have begun to embrace Christian Identity, and many have been spurred on by CI’s message of hate, violence and white supremacy.

The Christian Identity movement is rife with conspiracy theories, and perhaps the most widespread is that of ZOG, the Zionist Occupational Government. Essentially, CI teaches that Jewish Zionists have taken control of the United States government in an effort to purge America of all true patriotic Americans, and create a new Jewish state. CI adherents (which includes the vast majority of white supremacists, including skin heads and others) believe much of the media outlets (film, television, radio and print) are ZOG controlled.

In fairness to adherents of true Biblical Christianity, it should be pointed out that Christian Identity is not affiliated with true Biblical Christianity in any way, and its use of the word Christianity is considered blasphemous by Christians throughout the nation.

Black Nationalism During the post-Civil War era, many Blacks felt dispossessed, a feeling that had been with them since

the beginning of their days in slavery, but which grew after Civil War ended. They saw themselves as a “people without a national identity.” They found it difficult to identify with a country who had enslaved them, and equally difficult with those countries and ethnic groups who had taken them and sold them into slavery in the first place.

A “Black Nationalist” movement began to grow among Blacks who sought a national identity, one which they could claim as their own, separate from those whom they saw as having caused such intense suffering among them. They sought to establish a sense of unity, harmony, peace, and togetherness among Blacks as they lived among those whom they saw as having oppressed them.

Perhaps the first, and certainly the most influential Black to form an organization promoting Black Nationalism, was Marcus Garvey (1887 - 1940). Garvey, born in Jamaica, was passionate about the creation of a Black national identity, and created both the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the African Communities League in an effort to attain this goal. One of Garvey’s closest confidants was a half-Black Egyptian by the name of Duse Mohammad Ali. It was perhaps through the influences of Ali, that Garvey began to pay homage to the Blacks of ancient Egypt and the medieval Moorish empires.

Many of the early Black Nationalist groups began as religious organizations, and most remain so to this day, and many, perhaps through the influence of Marcus Garvey, embraced the tenets of Islam, as opposed to Christianity, which many viewed as the religion of their oppressors.

Among the earliest of the Black Nationalist groups was the Moorish Science Temple of America.

The Moorish Science Temple of America

The Moorish Science Temple of America (MST of A) was founded by Timothy Drew (born 1886 in North Carolina) in Newark, New Jersey in 1913 as the Canaanite Temple. At the time of the groups founding, Drew was using the name Noble Drew Ali, and the groups teachings were a blend of Black Nationalism, Asian philosophies, and Islamic teachings. In fact, Drew was among the first to introduce Islamic teachings to blacks in America. By 1925, Noble Drew Ali had Moorish Science temples in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago.

As the movement spread, Ali’s teachings evolved and solidified into what is now known as Moorish Science Thought. Ali taught that he was the reincarnation of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and that Islam was the original religion of the first African Americans, prior to their enslavement in this country.

Ali formulated what he called the “Five Divine Holy Principles” of love, truth, peace, freedom, and justice. He believed that the black race originated in Morocco (thus establishing Morocco as the Moorish Science “Promised Land” and “Mecca” for Moorish Science Temple adherents) and are descended from the Moors. That all blacks are true Asiatic and should be recognized as Moorish Americans.

Between the years 1925 - 1929, the Moorish Science Temple grew at an amazing rate, garnering some 30,000 adherents. In 1926 the organization incorporated and by 1928 there were Moorish Science grocery stores, schools, youth groups, newspapers and a Moorish Science magazine.

The rapid expansion of the group, however, also created a certain degree of infighting and violent power struggles. Perhaps the most controversial of these was between Ali himself and his Lieutenant Sheik Claude Green, which resulted in Greene’s murder. Ali was arrested for his possible involvement, and he died under mysterious circumstances while out on bail and awaiting trial.

Following Ali's death the movement began to spilt and factionalize. Two of the MST of A’s adherents claimed to embody Ali's reincarnated spirit. These were John Givens-El, and Wallace D. Fard.

As its members scattered throughout the various splinter groups, the Moorish Science Temple began to lose some of its influence in the black community, and by the 1970’s and ’80’s, the group was almost non-existent. Recently, however, since the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the Moorish Science Temple has seen resurgence in interest, especially among incarcerated blacks. Many identify with Noble Drew Ali’s teachings of the Moorish ancestry of blacks, the divine calling of the black race, and a rejection of subservience to what they term an oppressor empire known as Babylon, its leader, known as Pharaoh, and his minions. Babylon is defined as any nation who has enslaved or oppressed the black race. Pharaoh is defined as the leader of that nation, and Pharaoh’s minions are defined as those in positions of authority in that nation. The term “Pharaoh’s minions” would include not only all governmental employees (whether federal, state, or local) who are not sympathetic to the Moorish cause, but also those in the corporate world whom the Moorish Science Temple deems oppressive to blacks.

The Moorish Science Temple rejects figure of the “Master” in favor of the teacher. They believe anyone can be a teacher in relation to someone; as they believe everyone has something to teach, and everyone has something to learn.

All Moors are encouraged to take new names and titles for themselves. The Moorish Hierarchy is self

appointed by each individual study group, and all African-American’s are free to join and receive a membership certificate, which they refer to as “Passports.”

Among Moorish adherents, popular titles include: Moorish Governor, Metropolitan, Deacon, Vicar, Exilarch, Imam, Castellan, Papessa, Contessa, Marshall or just plain Reverend. Moorish Science Temple adherents will often add “Bey” or “El” to the end of their names, others favor other traditions, and some use their own names as a means of identifying themselves with the movement. They believe that all Moors are entitled to titles, however, as they believe that all Moors have “authority” given to them by virtue of their divine Moorish ancestry.

Wallace D. Fard

Of all the early leaders of the Black Nationalist organizations and religious groups, perhaps the most controversial was Wallace D. Fard. According to the F.B.I.’s intelligence file on Fard (released in 1979 under the Freedom of Information Act), he was born Wallace Don Ford on February 25, 1891 in Portland, Oregon, the son of Zared and Beatrice Ford (both from Hawaii, where the father allegedly operated the Ford Bottling Works). Throughout his life, Fard went by a number of alias’, including; W.D. Fard, Wallace Dodd Fard, Wallie Ford, W. Fard Mohammed, Fred Dodd, The Great Mandi, and several others.

On May 9, 1914, Fard married one Pearl Allen in Portland, and the marriage produced one son. Not much is known about this marriage; however, Fard’s second (common-law) wife stated that Fard admitted the marriage was beset with trouble and that the couple separated but never divorced. In 1919, while operating a café in Los Angeles, California, Fard entered into a common-law relationship with Hazel Barton. This relationship also produced one child, a son christened Wallace Dodd Ford, Jr. As with his first marriage, Fard and Hazel had many troubles, and in 1921 / 22, Hazel took their son and left Fard. According to Hazel, Fard stated he was going to New Zealand, and she never saw Fard again. She later changed their son’s name to Wallace Max Ford, and he died during World War II, as a member of the United States Coast Guard.

Whether Fard actually went to New Zealand is a matter of conjecture, and some believe he went to Detroit, Michigan instead, where he became acquainted with Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Science Temple of America. By 1926, however, Fard was back in California where he was arrested for trafficking in illegal narcotics and he was sentenced to the San Quentin correctional facility on June 12, 1926. Prison records show Fard to be a white male, 5’ 6” and 133 lbs, with black hair, brown eyes, and a dark / swarthy complexion (this was probably inherited from his mother who was one-half Polynesian).

Fard was released from San Quentin on May 27, 1929, and later that year made his way to Detroit where he announced that he was the reincarnation of Moorish Science Temple founder, Noble Drew Ali. According to a Michigan State Police memo dated June 16, 1942, Fard led several Moorish Science Temple adherents away from the factionalizing group after Drew Ali’s mysterious death on July 20, 1929.

During this time Fard claimed to be not only an incarnation of Noble Drew Ali, but also the reincarnation of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, and the earthly incarnation of Allah. He claimed to have been born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (as well as New Zealand, however a records search shows neither claim to be true), and to have found the “lost nation of Asia.” Fard soon established the short lived “Development of Our Own” organization in 1930, and taught that he had come from Mecca to establish freedom, justice, and equality for all Blacks (whom Fard referred to as his “uncles”) who were living in the wilderness of North America surrounded and robbed by the cave man (Fard’s term for whites. He also referred to whites as the “Caucasian devils,” “White devils,” and “Satan”).

Fard also taught that God was an “Asiatic Black man” and that there would be a great “War of

Armageddon” between Blacks and Whites, wherein the Whites would defeated.

In 1930, Fard established the Temple of Islam, which became the Nation of Islam (NoI). In 1934, Fard mysteriously vanished and has neither been seen nor heard from again. It has always been maintained by Nation of Islam adherents that Fard returned to Mecca, leaving his number one follower and student, Robert Poole (later he changed his name to Elijah Poole, and then to Elijah Mohammed) in charge of the entire organization, as his messenger to the Nation of Islam. It is likely, however, that Fard was killed.

(Information regarding Wallace D. Fard was also taken from the Encyclopedia of American Religions, volume two, 1978 edition, © 1978 by J. Goron Melton.)

Nation of Islam (NoI)

In the summer of 1930 Wallace D. Fard (a former adherent of Moorish Science Temple teachings) appeared in Detroit, Michigan proclaiming he had come from the holy city of Mecca, with a mission to teach blacks the truth about whites. He told all who would listen to prepare for a final war against the whites, a war which he called the battle of Armageddon. Fard claimed this battle would be the final confrontation between blacks and whites.

The ranks of Fard’s adherents grew rapidly, and he established the first Temple of Islam during the 1930s. The foundational teaching of Fard’s theology was that “Allah is God, the white man is the devil and the so-called Negroes are the Asiatic Black people, the cream of the planet earth.” According to F.B.I. files released under the Freedom of Information Act, in 1933, a scandal erupted concerning the Nation of Islam, involving alleged human sacrifices. Fard was arrested on May 25, 1933, and during questioning he admitted that his teachings were “strictly a racket” and he was “getting all the money out of it he could.” He was ordered out of Detroit.

Between the years 1930- 1933, Fard recruited some 8,000 followers among Detroit blacks. The most important of these new members was an unemployed auto worker named Robert Poole.

Poole was given the name “Kareem” when initiated into Fard’s group, and he rose rapidly in the organization, and he was renamed “Elijah Poole” and later “Elijah Muhammad” by Fard himself, and was subsequently selected by Fard to be his Chief Minister for the Nation of Islam.

Fard vanished under mysterious circumstances in June of 1934 Fard, leading some to believe he was assassinated by Elijah Muhammad, who succeeded Fard as the Nation of Islam leader. Muhammad ruled the NoI for the next 41 years.

It was Elijah Muhammad, who first coined the phrase “blue-eyed white devil” as his description of all whites, and he based his theology on the hate and racism blacks had suffered throughout the years, claiming that all whites were responsible for the injustices committed by the minority of white supremacists in this country. It was essentially a hate begotten of hate.

Muhammad taught that the entire creation of Allah is one of peace, but that this creation did not include whites (whether of European descent, Middle Eastern, or other). He claimed that all whites are devils who are not the creation of Allah, but are a race created by Yakub, the enemy of Allah. He taught that the white man is by nature evil, a vile creature that is incapable of doing good or right, and that the white man is a devil who is soon to be destroyed. He went on to teach that, the black man, who is by nature divine and good, must completely separate himself from the white man as soon as possible, in order to avoid being caught up in the white man’s hour of total destruction.

Muhammad went on to say that Christianity is a “white man’s religion” and to be avoided by all blacks. He said, “There is no hope for us in Christianity; it is a religion organized by the enemies (the white race) of the

Black Nation to enslave us to the white race's rule.”

On February 25, 1975, Elijah Muhammad died of congestive heart failure. The next day, at the annual Savior’s Day Rally (commemorating the birth of NoI founder Wallace Fard Muhammad), Elijah Muhammad’s seventh child, Wallace (Warith) Deen Muhammad, was named to succeed his father as the new leader of the Nation of Islam.

Within months of his successions, Wallace instituted major changes in the NoI. Wallace, who had been a close friend of Malcolm X (both before and after Malcolm's break with his father, Elijah Muhammad) had been influenced by Malcom X’s beliefs that Islam was not necessarily a black religion, but one that accepted people of every color, and Wallace began to move the NoI away from its racist beginnings and toward a more moderate and tolerant belief system. The group was renamed the World Community of Al-Islam in the West, and later the American Muslim Mission, the name they maintain today.

Wallace’s changes did not sit well with the more militant and radical NoI members, and with one in particular, Louis Eugene Walcott (born in New York in 1933).

Walcott joined the NoI as a young man, was soon renamed Louis Abdul Farrakhan, and quickly gained power and position within the organization. It is believed by many that Farrakhan sought to succeed Elijah Muhammad as the NoI leader. Muhammad’s son Wallace had been excommunicated several times by Muhammad himself and Farrakhan maneuvered himself into a position he believed would ensure his succession. As Malcom X grew in prominence in the NoI, he threatened Farrakhan’s position within the group. Malcom X was then assassinated, while speaking at the Apollo theater in Harlem, New York. At the time Farrakhan denied any involvement, although he was certainly suspected of at least orchestrating Malcom X’s death. Recently, however, Farrakhan did admit his involvement in the assassination.

As NoI under Wallace began to move away from its racist teachings, Farrakhan rebelled. He was determined to swing the groups theology back to the teachings of Fard and Elijah Muhammad, and in December 1977, Farrakhan and his followers left the group (which at this time was known as the American Muslim Mission) and formed his own reorganized Nation of Islam (NoI).

Farrakhan not only reinstituted the teachings of Fard and Elijah Muhammad, but took them even further. Farrakhan has not only taught that Wallace Fard is god, and that blacks are God’s chosen people, but he has also maintained (in spite of his claims to the contrary), a bitter hatred of Christianity, Judaism, Jews, and whites, blaming them for every evil and injustice ever experienced by blacks, taking every opportunity in his speeches, and utilizing his groups newspaper, the Final Call to revile whom he considers the black man’s enemy.

He has taught that America is the “number one enemy of freedom-loving peoples on the earth,” that whites are “devils” and that blacks are to avoid the “evil and filth of the white race.” During Jesse Jackson’s unsuccessful 1984 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Farrakhan (who was busy campaigning for Jackson) said that “Hitler was a very great man,” and that Judaism was a “gutter religion.”

Farrakhan has maintained over the years, a very close relationship with Libyan dictator and terrorist sympathizer Col. Muammar Khaddafi, and has received over eight million dollars in assistance from him over the years. Farrakhan’s relationship with this terrorist sympathizer was further illustrated in 1985 when he invited Khaddafi to be the keynote speaker (via satellite hookup from Libya) at that years Savior’s Day Celebration. Farrakhan gave him a warm welcome and glowing introduction to the over 13,000 member attending audience.

Khaddafi later said in an interview, “We are committed to give our support and confidence to the Nation of Islam in America led by my dear brother and friend, Mr. Louis Farrakhan. This help and assistance is not expressed and manifested in numbers, because it is not an account in a bank and it is not a kind of a loan. We give support and confidence that is unlimited and unwavering and it is the responsibility or the problem of those who want to translate this kind of aid and assistance into numerical figures.” It should also be

remembered that it was Khaddafi who attempted to recruit Vice Lord gang members to carry out terrorist attacks on American soil.

FUQRA

Fuqra (also known as Al-Fuqra and Jamaat Al-Fuqra) is an extremely violent Black Muslim extremist sect (and perhaps the most dangerous fundamentalist Islamic sect in America today) which acts out what they refer to as a holy war, or jihad, against their perceived enemies. These enemies usually include governmental agencies, whites, other minorities (especially Hindus and Hare Krishnas) and even other Muslims whom they have deemed too tolerant and not extremist enough. Fuqra adherents practice a type of sufi-mysticism combined with radical Islamic beliefs. They believe in forcing their brand of Islam on others by force.

Formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1980 as a splinter group of the Da’ar al-Islam sect, Fuqra has international ties, and has operated not only in America (primarily in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pacific Northwest), but also in Canada, the Caribbean, India, the Sudan, Pakistan, and other middle-Eastern countries. They have terrorist cells in various locations throughout the United States and their U.S. headquarters are believed to be located in Hancock, New York, with a training compound near Deposit, New York. The international headquarters of Fuqra are located in Lahore, Pakistan.

Fuqra organizes in a classic terrorist cell structure for their terrorist operations, with individual cells assigned to operate in specific geographic locations. There are believed to be at least five such cells located within the United States.

Fuqra members have been involved in fraud, assaults, murder, racketeering, weapon violations, extortion, fire-bombings, kidnapping, sabotage, conspiracy and other terrorist activities. Fuqra members have also been implicated in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

In September 1989, the FBI confiscated the contents of a storage locker in Colorado Springs, Colorado which was owned by Fuqra members. The contents included several bombs and bomb making supplies, bomb making instructions, hand grenades, assault weapons, military manuals, and target practice silhouettes which had been marked with headings such as “FBI anti-terrorist Team” and “Zionist Pig.”

In October 1992, a multi-agency law enforcement task force raided a Fuqra compound near Buena Vista, Colorado. Task force members located and confiscated a weapons cache that included Soviet-made AK-47 assault rifles, American M-16s and other assault weapons.

Fuqra also goes by: The Impoverished, Jamaat al-Fuqra, The Jihad Council for North America (founded by al-Fuqra in 1983; based in Toronto), Muhammad’s Commandos, Muslims of the Americas (an al-Fuqra corporate front), and the Soldiers of Allah.

Black Hebrew Israelites

The Black Hebrew Israelite (BHI) movement finds its roots in the Post-Civil War era of the United States as a non-violent pro-black religious movement. The BHI was largely unknown, even among blacks, until an individual by the name of Ben Carter (later known as Ben Ami Ben Israel) who hailed from the south side of Chicago, Illinois, began to popularize the BHI teachings among the cities blacks. Ben Israel taught that all blacks were descended from the Biblical Israelite Tribe of Judah. In 1967 Ben Israel managed to persuade a group of followers to accompany him to Israel to establish a BHI community. Approximately 1500 to 3000 BHI followers currently live peacefully in Israel.

Although the Black Israelite (BHI) movement contains both peaceful and violent factions, although both

groups consider themselves to be the true children of God, the true authentic Jews, and divinely supreme in every way to all other races and ethnic groups.

The violent factions of the BHI can best be described as an extreme form of black supremacy. They are anti-white, anti-Semitic, and anti-government. In fact, white supremacist Tom Metzger (founder of the racist group White Aryan Resistance) once remarked, “They [the BHI] are the black counterpart of us.”

BHI adherents have been tied to extreme acts of violence in the past and have exhibited the potential and possibility to engage in similar acts at any given time. Many of the violent BHI groups have vowed to begin a race war to eliminate those whom they feel are of lower races and ethnic groups then themselves. They believe that any amount of violence, including murder, is justifiable in the eyes of God, as long as it serves to rid the world of [the BHI version of] evil.

BHI adherents may wear the six-pointed Star of David as an identifying symbol, and they often engage in paramilitary style training. They have been known to engage in assaults, murder, drug trafficking, fraud, and weapons violations.

Part Five: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG’s) have existed in this country since the late 1940’s. Primarily made up of returning World War II veterans, the original motorcycle gangs were not gangs at all. They were simply groups of men and women with a love of motorcycles who gathered together to race and ride. A small number of these, however, were not content to simply ride with the rest, and it was this small group that formed the foundation for today’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.

OMG’s consist primarily of white males (females are rarely afforded membership, and are considered as chattel owned by the gang as a whole), although there are a few black, Hispanic, and Asian OMG’s. White OMG members and affiliates often express white supremacist philosophies and many will religiously affiliate (if they express a religion) themselves with either Christian Identity, Asatru, or other white supremacist / separatist groups.

Various OMG’s throughout the country have been and are involved in prostitution, gambling, burglary, gun running, international white slavery, bombings, arson, loan sharking, assaults, theft (from many different areas, including homes, businesses, and even the U.S. military), forgery, kidnapping, fraud, robbery, rape, extortion, protection, blackmail, freight hi-jackings, murder (both retaliatory and contract), and the manufacture, importation, and distribution of illegal drugs.

Over the years, there have been many OMG’s, as many as 800 existing in the United States at any given time. Of these, there are four who have perhaps garnered the most attention as being the biggest, the most powerful, and the most dangerous. They are the Hell’s Angels, the Outlaws, the Pagans, and the Bandidos. Of these “Big Four,” all but the Pagans have chapters not only throughout the U.S., but also in several foreign countries. The Hell’s Angels alone have had over 63 chapters in 13 countries.

The Hell’s Angels

Originally known as the “Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington” (or PO BOBS), the Hell’s Angels were formed in Fontana, California by a group of individuals who took perverse enjoyment in the terrorization of the general population. They enjoyed drinking, fighting, vandalizing the property of others, and generally raising as much hell as they could muster. They presented an image of rebelliousness and lawlessness, and were portrayed as such in the 1954 film, The Wild One starring Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin.

The Hell’s Angels are by far one of the largest OMG’s in existence today. They have an enormous membership, and possess a structured hierarchy with a clear chain of command at both the national and local levels.

The Hell’s Angels are heavily involved in the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine and LSD. They are an extremely violent and dangerous gang, and are believed to have been involved in a number of assaults and murders.

The Outlaws

The Outlaws were formed in Chicago, Illinois during the 1950’s. They are currently based in Detroit,

Michigan, but have expanded their areas of operations to include the Great Lakes region, areas along the east and south east coast, as well as throughout the southern states.

The Outlaws are known to be involved in the trafficking of diazepam (Valium) and cocaine. They are also known to be involved in extortion, prostitution, theft, and contract murder.

The Pagans

The Pagans originated in Prince George County, Maryland in the late 1950’s, and now have as many as 26 chapters located throughout the nation, most forming through the assimilation of smaller OMG’s who “patch over” (or forsake their former gang colors for those of the Pagans) to the Pagans. Although the Pagans possess a structured hierarchy, all chapters are ultimately controlled by the “Mother Club,” a group of thirteen original members. The Mother Club members can be identified by a black “13” located on their club colors. It is the Mother Club which sets policies and regulations for the remainder of the club and it various chapters.

The Pagans are known to be involved in the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine, as well as trafficking in marijuana, cocaine, hashish, and stolen pharmaceutical drugs. They are also known to be involved in assaults, theft, extortion, prostitution, firearms trafficking, and murder.

The Pagans have close ties with organized crime and are known to have been used by the La Cosa Nostra (Mafia) as hit men and enforcers.

The Bandidos

The Bandidos are the youngest of the “Big Four” OMG’s, and were established in 1966. They operate primarily in Texas, and possess a structured hierarchy with four regional vice-presidents, one of whom also serves as club president.

The Bandidos generate their revenue through prostitution, gambling, theft, extortion, drug trafficking (heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine), and fraud. They are also known to have engaged in assaults and murder.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs found within Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region Include: Hells Angles, Bandidos, Sons of Silence, Mongols, High Plains Drifters, The Brothers Fast, Gypsy Jokers, Hell’s Lovers (a black OMG), Invaders, Outlaws, Pagans, Cobras, Dead Men, Diablo Lobos, Wotan Berserkers, Reapers, and the Good Old Dads and Sons (G.O.D.S.).